A demulsifier includes the reaction product of a) an alkanolamide, b) an acid having at least two carboxyl groups, a full or partial ester thereof, an anhydride thereof and combinations thereof, c) a polyglycol, and d) optionally, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol and combinations thereof. A method of demulsifying a water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsion includes adding the demulsifier to the emulsion and separating the emulsion into an oil phase and a water phase. Also disclosed is a method of making a demulsifier composition including reacting a) an alkanolamide, b) an acid having at least two carboxyl groups, a full or partial ester thereof, an anhydride thereof and combinations thereof, c) a polyglycol, and d) optionally, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol and combinations thereof.

A method of treating a contaminated oil comprising preparing a brine solution, adding ozone to the brine solution to produce ozonated brine solution, adding a volume of ozonated brine solution to a volume of the contaminated oil, mixing the volumes of contaminated oil and ozonated brine solution with coagulant and surfactant at a shear rate sufficiently high so as to cause formation of an emulsion of the contaminated oil and the brine solution, stopping the mixing, thereby causing the emulsion to separate into an aqueous brine liquid phase and an oil liquid phase, separating the brine liquid phase from the oil liquid phase, and separating at least one contaminant from the oil liquid phase to produce a volume of purified oil.

A multi stage process for separating oil, protein, fiber and clean water from a stream containing whole stillage byproduct from ethanol production is disclosed. In a first step, fibers are separated in a two-step process that includes a plate separator and a press. In a subsequent step, the liquid stream separated from the fibers and contains oil, protein and water is treated with a composition that causes the protein to gel. The liquid stream is then processed in a phase separator that drains the oil by gravity, removes the water by an impeller under pressure and removes the solidified protein using a scroll.

Coalescer plates, coalescer plate units, and coalescers, are provided. An exemplary embodiment provides a coalescer plate for separating a mixture of immiscible fluids. The coalescer plate comprises a pattern of wetting and non-wetting regions, wherein the pattern is based, at least in part, on phyllotaxis.

A valve arrangement includes a valve shaft having a fluid flow bore, and valve gear projections or teeth projecting from the valve shaft, constructed and arranged to receive a force to rotate the valve shaft. The valve arrangement can be used in a filter assembly having cartridge projections such as gear teeth to mesh with the teeth on the valve gear.

A filter structure for fuel fluids, comprising a first filter wall, a coalescing second filter wall located downstream of and in contact with the first filter wall, and a hydro phobic wall, in which the first filter wall comprises a first porous layer, realised in a material having a receding contact angle Θ rec comprised between 30° and 80°; the coalescing second filter wall comprises a second porous layer made of a material having a greater porosity than the first filter wall; the hydrophobic third wall comprises a layer located at a distance from the second layer.

A filter structure (100) for fuel fluids comprising a first filter wall and a hydrophobic wall, characterised in that the hydrophobic wall is made of a material having a mean static angle that is equal to or greater than 90°, a receding contact angle θ.sub.rec that is less than 90° and a hysteresis H, between an advancing contact angle θ.sub.av and a receding contact angle θ.sub.rec, that is comprised between 50° and 80°.

The invention aims to provide a copper mesh coated with manganese molybdate and application thereof in the separation of oil-water emulsion and degradation of organic pollutants in water. A large amount of nano-scale manganese molybdates are grown on the surface of a copper mesh through a two-step hydrothermal method. Thereby, a multifunctional composite material is prepared, which can effectively separate oil-water emulsion and degrade organic pollutants in water. The copper mesh has good recyclability. Most of all, the product is suitable for industrial production to achieve the purpose of treating water pollution.

Separation of particles or droplets from a host fluid may be achieved using a transducer and/or reflector that is a thin, non-planar structure. The thin non-planar structure improves operation of an acoustic standing wave generated by an acoustic transducer. The structure may operate as a pressure release boundary and may be constructed as plastic film.

Separation of particles or droplets from a host fluid may be achieved using a transducer and/or reflector that is a thin, non-planar structure. The thin non-planar structure improves operation of an acoustic standing wave generated by an acoustic transducer. The structure may operate as a pressure release boundary and may be constructed as plastic film.